News of Clive Barker’s death at the age of 78 has been received with heavy hearts by the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 Board. The announcement of the former Bafana Bafana coach’s passing was made on Saturday.
“We all remember how Clive Barker inspired and united a nation in 1996. He coached Bafana Bafana to glory when South Africa hosted AFCON and he was a globally loved figure,” said Ms Patience Shikwambana, chairperson of the VNWC 2023 Board.
Barker had, in March this year, been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). He coached professionally for four decades, with much success at Manning Rangers, Durban City, Durban Bush Bucks, Santos Cape Town, Wits and Maritzburg United. He won top-flight domestic league titles with Durban City in 1982/83 and Durban Bush Bucks in 1985.
“Clive will go down as one of the most inspirational popular figures in South Africa’s sporting history. He was right at the heart of the ‘Madiba Magic’ that swept the land in the mid-1990s. He also showed what is possible through the success of sport in this country. We will miss him,” Ms Shikwambana said.
